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Walls are the perfect place for rats/mice to live in your home — staying warm and dry in seclusion away from residents during the day. Rats can do serious damage by gnawing at wiring, and tearing up insulation within the walls. They also leave droppings everywhere, which could become a serious health hazard.

Mice and rats contaminate food once they have come in contact with it. Both rat/mouse droppings and urine can carry serious and sometimes deadly disease. Rats and mice can also transmit bacteria.

Mice and rats in the home can destroy furniture and chew holes in walls. They can also tear up books, papers, plastic, wood, clothing, etc.

Signs of rats/mice in the home include:

noise in the walks or roof

chewed food, bags, etc.

rodent droppings

grease marks on walls, etc. from the natural oils on fur

stench from rat/mice urine that smells like ammonia

nesting debris such as piles of light material such as paper, lint and insulation

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

Rats and mice do not like light, so any trap near lighting is a bad choice. Rats like to travel along walls and cabinets, and don’t like to venture out into open space. (Like in the middle of a room)

Good choices for trap installation:

behind furniture

an open closet

corners of a room

back of cabinets

pantry

Tips to prevent rats and mice in your home:

Keep garbage outside and covered and remove food garbage from home daily

Garage

Garages are the ideal place for rats or mice to take up residence. Rats and mice can get into boxes and just about anything else in the garage. Rats and mice can jump up to one foot in the air, and can easily climb along wires, ropes, etc. Any small opening can lead them into the wall where they can nest and destroy wiring and insulation. They can also chew larger holes in your walls.

Signs of rats/mice in the garage:

noise in the walks or roof

chewed pet food bags, etc.

rodent droppings

tracks from rats or mice may be visible on dusty surfaces

Gnawing marks on wires, etc.

grease marks on walls, etc. from the natural oils on fur

stench from rat/mice urine that smells like ammonia

nesting debris such as piles of light material such as paper, lint and insulation

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

Rats and mice can easily move along exposed rafters in a garage, and can crawl along wires and ropes. They can also jump up to one foot and easily walk along stacked boxes.

Good choices for trap installation:

near food storage

along walls

corners of a garage

walls behind of shelves

near pet food

near automobiles

Tips for keeping rats and mice out of your garage:

Keep boxes tightly sealed and make sure you have access to the perimeter walls

Any food stored in the garage should be tightly sealed in a plastic container

Seal utility openings with sealing or a pipe collar

Cover any vents with ¼-inch mesh screen

Any gaps in the home should be under ¼-inch

Shed

Many sheds are not sealed up well enough to keep rats and mice out. Rats and mice can squeeze through extremely small openings and take up residence in your shed. Rats in your shed can damage stored items, and also pose a health risk if you come in contact with rodent droppings or urine.

signs of rats/mice in the shed include:

rodent droppings

rodent tracks may be visible on dusty surfaces

materials with visible bite marks from gnawing

gnawing on wiring

grease marks on walls, etc. from the natural oils on fur

stench from rat/mice urine that smells like ammonia

nesting debris such as piles of light material such as paper, lint and insulation

Tips for keeping rats and mice out of your shed:

Don’t leave anything in the shed rats and mice may want to tear up for nesting

Don’t leave food sources available

Basement

Basements can be the perfect place for rats and mice to take up residence. Most basements are dark and not used often. Stacks of boxes and other stored items provide the perfect place for rodents to hide, and to find nesting materials.

signs of rats/mice in the basement include:

noise rats and mice scratching in the attic and in walls

rat/mouse droppings

damage from rats/nice gnawing on electrical wires

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

Good choices for trap installation:

along walls

corners of the basement

walls behind of shelves

Tips for keeping rats and mice out of your basement:

Keep boxes tightly sealed and make sure you have access to the perimeter walls

Seal off any holes or gaps using steel so rats can’t chew through (bolt steel in place)

Use a sealant to block off air flow

Attic

No matter where you live, there is a good chance there are rats and/or mice around. The house mouse is the most common species of mice found in homes, and the Norway rat (also known as the roof rat or black rat) is the most common invader of the rat species.

If you have an attic, it is the perfect place for small animals to invade. Rats and mice are the most common problem.

signs of rats/mice in the attic include:

noise rats and mice scratching in the attic and in walls

rat/mouse droppings

damage from rats/nice gnawing on electrical wires

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

If you have rats or mice in your attic, the first step should be an inspection of your attic area. Look for openings like gaps, vents, holes, etc. The ground, walls and roof should all be checked.

Once everything is sealed, rats/mice should be trapped. Any rats trapped inside the attic will need to eat, and be very attracted to the lure inside the trap.

Good choices for trap installation:

along walls

corners of the attic

walls behind of shelves

Tips for keeping rats and mice out of your attic:

Keep boxes tightly sealed and make sure you have access to the perimeter walls

Seal off any holes or gaps using steel so rats can’t chew through (bolt steel in place)

Use a sealant to block off air flow

Crawl Space

Rats and mice often enter the crawl space under homes when they find an opening. This can give them an easier way to invade the home if they can find a small vent or gap to get in. They can also do serious damage to any visible wiring, and can cause pipes to burst when they chew away the insulation.

signs of rats/mice in the crawl space include:

noise from under the home

rodent droppings

Gnawing marks on wires, etc.

grease marks on walls, etc. from the natural oils on fur

stench from rat/mice urine that smells like ammonia

nesting debris such as piles of light material such as paper, lint and insulation

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

Good choices for trap installation:

along the perimeter

inside corners of the crawl space

Tips for keeping rats and mice out of your crawl space:

Completely seal your crawl space — some mice can fit through a hole of about 1/2-inch in size

Lay down a vapor barrier

Keep hedges, vines and other brush away from the exterior of your home

Dig a small trench around your crawl space and pour concrete to deter mice and rats from burrowing under the dirt

Automobile Storage

Automobiles are often an appealing place for rats and mice to crawl inside from underneath the car. Cars that are stored for long periods can become ideal for rats or mice to take up residence in. The rodents will build a nest in the car and can cause serious damage by chewing away at wiring.

Damaged wiring in an automobile can not only be costly, bat can be a serious hazard when the car is started without knowledge of the damage. Cars have been known to catch fire, and damage from rats or mice can also cause the car to operate unsafely when driven. Mechanics often see vehicles that are brought in due to damage from rodents.

signs of rats/mice in your automobile include:

gnawed wiring

rat our mouse droppings

torn upholstery or other piles of nesting materials

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

Good choices for trap installation:

along a wall or in a corner closest to the vehicle

beneath the vehicle

Tips for keeping rats and mice out of your automobiles:

Check your vehicle often for signs of rodents

beneath the vehicle

Keep the hood up so rodents do not have a dark place to hide

Yard and Property

Rats and mice outside can get out of control quickly, and pose a problem to pets and other wildlife. Rats and mice can spread disease, and their rat droppings and urine are a health hazard. If your yard or property is inhabited by rats or mice, there is a greater chance of the rodents finding away in your home or other structures on your property.

Signs of rats/mice on your property include:

rat or mouse droppings (small brown pellet-like droppings

brown grease marks on structures (from natural oil on fur)

rat or mouse tracks can sometimes be detected

bite marks on trees and other objects (use rodent detector cards from GoodnatureTM

look for “rat runs” — narrow paths in the grass rats repeatedly run along

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

The sooner rats and mice are trapped, the less time they will have to increase in population. A rodent infestation can quickly grow out of control without the proper trapping.

Good choices for trap installation:

place traps along paths and underneath shrubs and plants

traps can be mounted on trees because rats/mice often climb onto tree branches

place along fences

under dense foliage where rats locate for seclusion

near wood piles

under carports

in or around sheds, barns or other structures

Tips to prevent rats and mice:

Keep garbage in cans and tightly covered

Keep dog food and other pet food in a tightly-sealed containers

Do not place bird seed in feeders

Keep lumber and firewood stacked away from the home

Trim vines and shrubs away from your home

Check the perimeter of your home and other structures for gaps (gaps should not be more than 1/4-inch)

Case Study

John lives on a 516 square meter property in Karori with an overgrown section to the rear and a neglected bush reserve across the road. Motivated by a desire to both protect the returning native birds that visit the property and save his tree from damage, John set out to control rats.

Two years ago he purchased a Goodnature A24 trap and had success putting a stop to the tree rat damage and occasionally would see rats dead beneath the trap. In March this year however, rats re-appeared in greater numbers and after relocating his A24 to find the right spot to trap, John has tallied 21 dead in 29 days. John’s now considering establishing a network of traps in the neglected bush reserve across the road to help protect both his property and the native birds. Read More…

Chicken Coop

Rats and mice in the chicken coop will steal eggs, and pose a health hazard to the flock. Keeping rodents out of the coop is essential to healthy chickens.

signs of rats/mice in the chicken coop include:

rat or mouse droppings (small brown pellet-like droppings

brown grease marks on structures (from natural oil on fur)

rat or mouse tracks can sometimes be detected

gnawing marks

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

Good choices for trap installation:

Along the perimeter of the chicken coop

Near feeders

Tips for keeping rats and mice out of your chicken coop:

Use smaller wire than chicken wire — it does not keep out rodents

Do not keep seed out during the night to attract rodents

Remove water at night when rats are out to drink

Store chicken feed in a tightly-sealed spill proof container

Be sure to repair any holes or gaps in your coop that may allow rodents inside

Farm/Barn

Rats and mice can become a big problem on a farm. The often infest horse stables, chicken cooks and other areas of your barn. They are attracted to animal food and can be a health hazard by contaminating food and water for farm animals. They also contaminate hey needed for livestock. Rats and mice can spread disease to animals. They can also damage farm equipment by gnawing on electrical wires.

Signs of rats/mice on farm or barn include:

rat or mouse droppings (small brown pellet-like droppings

brown grease marks on structures (from natural oil on fur)

rat or mouse tracks can sometimes be detected

bite marks on trees and other objects

look for “rat runs” — narrow paths in the grass rats repeatedly run along

Where to Install the A24 Automatic Rat and Mouse trap

The sooner rats and mice are trapped, the less time they will have to increase in population. A rodent infestation can quickly grow out of control without the proper trapping.

Good choices for trap installation:

along walls or in corners of the barn or other structures

Install along fences

near animal feed areas

install near the opening of burrows

Tips to prevent rats and mice in your farm or barn:

Keep garbage in cans and tightly covered

Trim vines and shrubs away from your home

Check the perimeter of your home and other structures for gaps (gaps should not be more than 1/4-inch)

Case Study

Laurence Giles is a farmer operating north of the Waikato town of Morrinsville. His property sits in the hills west of the Hauraki Plains, backing onto bush. This is rat country and Laurence had major issues with the invasive pests. “They were thick on the ground,” says Laurence. “You’d hear them outside the house and in the roof at night all the time. Down the cowshed you’d see them on the rafters and all around.” Now Laurence doesn’t see any rats. This case study looks at how Laurence invested wisely to get success through Goodnature technology. Read More…

Vineyard

Rats and mice are prevalent in almost all areas of the US. Vineyards offer a source of grapes for rats to munch on. Vineyard sheds and equipment also provide places for rats and mice to take residence in. Rats and mice in the vineyard can multiply quickly, and soon become out of control. Rodent droppings and urine can be a serious health hazard, and can even carry deadly disease when coming in contact with people. Rodents can also damage equipment by gnawing and chewing through wiring, etc.